The Netherlands Parliament urged the European Union to restrict weapons exports to Turkey and impose sanctions on people in Turkey and Azerbaijan responsible for violence in the ongoing Nagorno-Karabagh conflict, according to a Nov. 18 post on the EU Sanctions blog. The parliament specifically asked the EU for a moratorium on weapons exports that could be used in the conflict, to impose sanctions on people responsible for the violence and to designate senior officials in Azerbaijan, including President Ilham Aliyev, his family members and “other key figures in the Azerbaijani offensive.” Sanctions should also be imposed on Syrian fighters in the conflict deployed by Turkey, the post said.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notice as of Nov.18 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Turkey recently reduced tariffs on lentils and temporarily eliminated duties on sunflower seeds, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service said in a report released Nov. 9. The changes, made Nov. 5, reduced tariffs on red lentils from 19.3% to 9% “until further notice,” and reduced tariffs on sunflower seeds to zero through June 2021, the report said. Turkey made the moves because of the rising cost of imported goods, which has had “large effects on domestic food and feed prices.”

The United Kingdom’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation amended and added sanctions entries related to Belarus, Syria and Turkey. OFSI on Nov. 9 amended two entries under its Turkey sanctions regime: Mehmet Ferruh Akalin and Ali Coscun Namoglu. The U.K. also added 12 government officials and amended three entries under its Belarus sanctions regime, and added eight entries to its Syria regime.

The European Union renewed its sanctions regime against Turkey’s illegal drilling activities in the Mediterranean for one year, a Nov. 6 notice said. The regime, extended until Nov. 12, 2021, currently targets two people.

Turkey recently amended its customs regulations to address situations wherein certificates of origins are not attached to a declaration, KPMG said in an Oct. 20 post. In those situations, the country’s government will allow traders to submit the certificate to the customs authority within six months, KPMG said. The change took effect Oct. 20.

Berkshire Hathaway will pay $4.1 million after its subsidiary illegally exported more than 140 shipments of cutting tools to Iran, the Office of Foreign Assets Control said in an Oct. 20 notice. Iscar Kesici Takim Ticareti ve Imalati Limited Sirket (Iscar Turkey), Berkshire’s Turkish subsidiary, hid the exports from its parent company, which resulted in more than $350,000 worth of orders going to Iranian end-users. Along with the fine, Berkshire committed to a range of sanctions compliance procedures in a settlement agreement with OFAC and will annually certify for the next five years that it is meeting its compliance obligations.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Oct. 19 (some may also be given separate headlines):

Turkey recently announced new procedures involving imports of dual-use items and technologies related to weapons of mass destruction, Herdem, an Istanbul-based law firm, said in an Oct. 13 post. Turkey’s trade ministry will approve all certificates of import and end-use requests submitted “from the importer by the exporting country,” the post said. Certificates will be valid for six months without an extension, it said. Turkey will also require a “permit letter” if the goods are transferred to a third country.

The Canada government issued the following trade-related notices as of Oct. 14 (some may also be given separate headlines):